CT Virtuosi: La Bohème by G. Puccini

Friday, May 1, 2015

7:30pm10:30pm19:3022:30

Trinity-on-Main69 Main StNew Britain, CT, 06051United States

Puccini’s beloved La Bohème relates the loves and trials of a group of impoverished artists in mid-19th century Paris. It deeply expresses human experiences scene after scene periodically clothed in rapturously beautiful music. The opera focuses on a love relationship between Rodolfo, a poet, and Mimi, his seamstress neighbor. Rodolfo shares his humble attic room with Marcello, a painter, and two other friends, Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who live nearby. Also included are Musetta, Marcello’s sometime lover, and her current beau who is the wealthy and elderly Alcinidoro.

The first act depicts a frigid apartment scene followed by Rodolfo’s first encounter with Mimi in the adjacent hallway. In Act II the scene changes to a Christmas Eve celebration at the lively Café Momus with large on-stage groups of revelers. In the final act when Mimi is ill and dying the ensemble reaches an emotional and musical height.

Giacomo Puccini composed La Bohème in 1896, followed in 1900 by Tosca and Madama Butterfly in 1904. These three masterpieces headline the offerings of opera houses worldwide. Puccini was a master dramatist musician who instinctively wedded sublime sound to his operas… and audiences the world over continue to respond.

Connecticut Lyric Opera and the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra present a new fully staged production with orchestra conducted by maestro Adrian Sylveen. Sung in Italian with English subtitles projected above the stage.